A Street Lesson in Domestic Violence and the Meaning of the N-word

In no circumstance do I condone any man laying hands on a woman; as far as I am concerned, it is a cowardly act. However, should this sickening act occur, and should the victim happen to have a brother who issues his own brand of street justice to the one who physically abused his sister, then the abuser undoubtedly had it coming. This scenario is actually depicted in the video: Why You Should Never Put Hands On Someone's Sister … http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh4BQY4Ir3D267eN0J

However, the video is very disturbing in a certain respect: All involved parties are black, and as the brother drops vengeful, yet well-deserved, blows on the abuser of his sister, he uses the epithet “n**ger” numerous times. There is far more going on here than just a brother taking up for his sister—it’s also a lesson in the true intent and the dual-sidedness of the word.

As the brother hovers staunchly and remorseless, with all power balled-up in his hands, over the helpless, curled-up soul, he spits the term at the abuser from hard, tightened lips, daring him to move outside of his mete. The abuser takes the beating and dares not make a move shy of the brother’s approval—he stays in his place. This scene is a perfect metaphorical depiction of White America’s intent in the term and the desired reaction of black America—to stay in its place, wounded and defenseless.

Furthermore, the n-word wasn’t being used endearingly but derogatorily and from a vicinity of hate. An acceptable notion exists in the black community that not only is it okay to use the word as a “term of endearment”, but as an insult as well. Now, if proponents of the term say that the term has no power, they’ve changed the meaning of the term, and anyone of any race can be called a “n**ger”— noting that it’s no longer a race-based term, how can the term still be used as a term of hate or degradation ONLY toward an African-American? If one becomes angered with a non-black person, we do not blurt out the n-word to insult them—some other profanity may be used; however, as soon as one becomes angered with an African-American, we spit fire the n-word at them to offend them. Even though the term is sometimes used as an endearing term, it can be invoked at will to administer its crippling and true meaning.

A psychosis exists about the n-word that the black community, in general, completely denies or misses (is blinded to). The ravages of centuries of brutal mistreatment at the hands of whites—through slavery, Jim Crow segregation and lynch mobs—still has a powerful psychological effect on black people.

There seems to be little variation from comments once made by an old woman, an escaped slave during the Civil War era, and the driving force of those blacks who use and condone usage of the word today. This old lady had been reprimanded by a missionary for calling her fellow slaves n**gers. She replied, “We are n**gers. We always was n**gers and we always shall be. N**ger here, and n**ger there. N**ger do this and n**ger do that. We've got no souls. We's animals. We's black and so is the Evil One.”

“The Bible doesn't say the devil is black,” protested the missionary. “Well”, the old woman said, “white folks say so and we's bound to believe them, 'cause we's nothing but animals and n**gers. Yes, we's n**gers! N**gers! N**gers!''

Isn’t it ironic how many contemporary blacks use and/or condone use of the n-word in this 21st century—a word that was handed to them by a racist institutionalized system? White folks categorized African-Americans centuries ago and to this very day, many blacks have failed to deviate from their so-called place and entitlement of the n-word.

A metamorphous is required. We, as a community, must allow the unhealthy, hindering, and destructive aspects of our past to die and establish healthy, progressive, and constructive mentalities to successfully live in the now. It’s hard and quite scary to think of dying, to think of burying something we have so long lived with. We often think that because we have lived with a thing for so long, that it’s right; to the contrary, that very thing we’ve been living with could be the primary factor holding us back from reaching our maximum potential. Think about that addiction to smoking, an abusive lover, and acceptance of less-than ideal circumstances. … Just because it’s “the way it’s always been,” doesn’t mean it’s “the way it’s gotta continue to be.” It’s painful to kill off these “bedmates,” but these haunting ailments must die in order to truly be free and live on a higher-level, prosperously.

The fact of the matter is that current uses of the word n**ger cannot erase, transform, eradicate, or successfully redefine its authentic, ghastly definition. No, we aren't slaves, but each time we call each other "n**ger" or "n**ga", we desecrate and dishonor the memories of those who came before us, and our spirit of today.

H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc.; a writer for the New England Informer Online; and author of Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec